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United States
States Reopening
After weeks of being predominately shut down, states are starting to reopen even as the national number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise. The New York Times has created a map to visualize the patterns of reopening across the country; many states in the south and middle of the country are beginning to reopen earlier. These incremental reopenings are the responsibility of each state’s governor, and in some cases are happening against the advice of public health and medical professionals. Mayors across the country are concerned for their cities; governors’ directives can supersede their ability to maintain city-wide lock downs. This is the case in Georgia, where there have been an additional 2,000 confirmed cases since the Governor announced his plans to open the state on Monday. Meanwhile Atlanta’s mayor continues to urge residents to stay inside while her lawyers consider a court challenge. Other states will look to these initial reopenings for guidance in the coming weeks as Stay-at-Home orders around the country continue to expire.
This map depicts the states planning to reopen in the coming weeks. All COVID-19 updates will be displayed in a red box.
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Lebanon
Violent Protests
Clashes between army soldiers and hundreds of protesters renewed this week in the Lebanese city of Tripoli after two months of respite due to COVID-19 lockdowns. Protests turned violent and caused property damage in the country’s poorest city, leaving at least one protester dead and several businesses charred. The Lebanese government reports that up to 75% of citizens are in need of aid as the nation’s economy continues to contract amid the COVID-19 pandemic and a long-running financial crisis. Recent months have left thousands of people out of work in the country, which is now struggling to cope with the coronavirus pandemic. Beirut is working on passing an economic rescue plan to avoid further violent outbreaks.
This map depicts Lebanon showing Tripoli and capital city Beirut along its Mediterranean coastline. Click on the map to learn more.
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Arctic Circle
Arctic Ozone Hole Closes
The largest ozone hole ever recorded above the Arctic has now closed, according to the E.U.’s earth monitoring program, Copernicus. The unprecedented hole in the ozone that developed earlier this year was accredited to the high strength of the polar vortex that usually brings cold air to the Arctic region. A polar vortex brought temperatures 20 degrees Celsius above the average to the region, depleting ozone concentrations. As temperatures increased, the ozone-depleted air mixed with ozone-rich air from lower latitudes, allowing the hole to close. It is very rare that an ozone hole develops over the Arctic, with the first ever occurrence recorded in January 2011.
This map depicts the closure of the Arctic ozone hole. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: The Curonian Spit, a narrow spit approximately 60 miles (100 km) long and 1–2 miles (1.5–3 km) wide separates the Curonian Lagoon from which sea?
A: Baltic Sea
Located in the Kalipeda Region of Lithuania and the Kaliningrad Region of Russia, the Curonian Spit is an extended sand dune peninsula separating the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the spit is threatened by the natural forces of wind and waves and protection and stabilization works of the dunes that began in the 19th century and are still continuing to the present day.
Source
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Q: The Khunjerab Pass, the world’s highest paved international border crossing, connects which two countries?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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